No Synonyms

Description

Numerous, in places common breeding migrant. Inhabits wet meadows in river valleys, near lakes, in marshes on plains and in mountains. More rare lives on fall cereal fields, fallow lands and saline soil parts not far from water. Arrives very early, on southern areas in mid- or end February – March, but on northern ones in April in small groups or flocks of two-three dozen birds. At Chokpak Pass latest migrants observed in mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs or in loose groups of several pairs on one reservoir, with other waders, gulls and terns often. Nest is built on shore, island or among meadow in shallow hole lined by various amount dry grass stems and leaves. Clutches of 4, rare 3 eggs from end March – early April on southern areas, and from end April – May in northern ones. Both parents incubate for 24-29 days and care for juveniles, which hatch in end April – June, and begin to fly in early June – mid-July. Repeated nesting after loss of first clutches not rare. Broods join in flocks in end June – July. From northern areas they leave until mid-September (some linger until mid-November), but in southern ones they gather in huge flocks (sometimes of hundreds or thousands) in August, September and first decade of October. Migrates here mainly in September – October, some birds occur all winter south of Chimkent.

Distribution

Breeds and occurs on migration in plains and in foothills everywhere, but on suitable places lives in mountains also, at up to 1800-2000 m. At last decades begins to nest on Markakol’ lake, where before not bred. On migration occurs and in waterless districts too.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.